Palawan: Puerto Prinsesa City Escapade Part 1

Booking a ticket several months ahead bound for Puerto Prinsesa, the Princess of Ports (because any kind of sea vessel can take rest on its bay), we finally travelled on May 8-11, 2015. These series of posts will chronicle what we did, what we saw and what we conquered on this summer escapade bound north.

Puerto Prinsesa City International Airport

Leaving Iloilo International Airport at 8:40 in the morning, we arrived Puerto Prinsesa International Airport at 9:45 am. Our accommodation was booked ahead by a friend who teaches at Western Philippines University (WPU), she gave us a recommendation to stay at the university guest house. This allows to save a few bucks as the guest house is only for 350 pesos/pax for an overnight stay. We paid 2100 Php for the 3-night stay. There are also lots of cheap hotels and apartments around the city, you can always google it up ahead or ask the tricycle drivers that are fetching passengers to and fro the airport. The drivers are honest and recommends good places to stay at.

A Different kind of tricycle

Upon our arrival, we hired a tricycle driver to chauffeur us to WPU, Pajara, Sta. Monica; since we don’t know where that is. We paid 100 Php from the airport to WPU. The driver even offered to tour us around the city when he knew that we did not get ourselves a city tour. But we did not take his offer, this is our first time in Palawan and we are planning to tour it on our own. Plus, my friend advised that Puerto is too small to get a tour for it and she gave us a list of recommended places to visit. And so, let’s tick off the list one by one. There are also agencies who offers city tour for 500 to 1000 Php for each person.

Western Philippines University
(inset)Guest House Signboard

We deposited our bags at WPU, after 30 minutes or so of waiting. We arrived at the ungodly day of recall election for Puerto Prinsesa City. It was a holiday and the caretaker was not there to greet us since she was off voting. Good thing, the student residents were helpful and helped us get in touch with the Mrs. Conching. We left our bag, took a key for the room and searched for an eatery for lunch.
After eating at a small eatery just outside of WPU, we asked the ladies how to get to Butterfly Garden, our first stop. We rode a multi-cab to Butterfly Garden and got lost because the driver forgot that we asked to be dropped specifically at the garden. So we got off and rode the tricycle to get exactly where we want to go.

Butterfly Garden

Palawan Butterfly Eco Garden and Tribal Village – Sta. Monica, Puerto Prinsesa City

The Palawan Butterfly Eco Garden houses 10 species of butterflies that are being bred in the garden and by sponsors who helps populates the garden. The entrance fee is 50pesos each person. 

Butterfly Life Cycle
(top)caterpillar (mid)pupae (bottom) butterfly

An attendant informed us that the butterflies are donated by enthusiasts who also sells butterflies to other visitors. She showed us the different stages of butterfly life cycle from caterpillar to pupae to butterfly. She also explained that different species of caterpillars prefers a different plant where to lay their eggs. So depending on what butterflies are found in the garden, they also plant the preferred plants for these butterflies to lay eggs. Then she showed us the chrysalises, most are empty but there are some that are yet to hatch.

Aside from the butterflies, the garden also have other insects and animals under their protection. Scattered around the garden are pens and glass cases that houses the following: millipedes, stag beetles, stick insects, bearcats, a gecko, giant Malay scorpions, a baby croc, a box turtle, and peacock pheasants.

the animals (clockwise) stag beetle, stick insect, gecko, scorpion, pheasant, box turtle, bearcat, crocodile

The Tribal Village is home to the Tribu Palwan when they come down from the mountains to sell their goods. They are given a place to stay here for people to learn of their culture and traditions. Tribu Palwan is believed to be the descendants of the Tabon Man and they have weaponry and knowledge handed down from their ancestors that they still use in their everyday lives. This tribe reveres the monkey as a sacred animal.

(left) Ginger around bf, the tribesmen, their instruments & tools
(right)the spear

They also have musical instruments used in rituals and songs. They allowed us to hear bits of their music but the dancing is part of their sacred rites and is only perform during ceremonies. Their weapon of choice is a bamboo blowgun where they shoot darts and poisoned arrows by blowing on it from the other end. Their accuracy is amazing. The other weapon is a spear decorated with monkey bones for luck in hunting and sort of blessing from the gods. They also have a rock used to create fire in 2 strokes and it smells like resin. They also have a torch that lasts for a month if lighted.

We have our picture taken with their pet Ginger, a 5-foot yellowish python that wrapped up the tour on the Tribal village.

After this, we spent some time with the butterflies and then leave for our next destination: The Binuatan Workshop.

Binuatan Creations – Sta. Monica, Puerto Prinsesa City

Binuatan and how the looms are created

Binuatan Creations is a workshop where Buri, Pandan and other native fiber-y materials in Palawan are used to manufacture handloom woven products. It is located in Sta. Monica just a few blocks away from the Butterfly Garden. We rode a tricycle to get there. 

front and back view of the loom

The lady in charge of the weaving showed us how to work on the loom, how patterns are made, what type of materials are combined to create different finished products/patterns. After the materials are woven into a certain length, it is then transferred to the item creation. From this, placemats, bags, cellphone holders, purses, ipad covers and other stuffs are produced then displayed in the showroom.

Most of the workers in the shop are mothers who just need extra money or has nothing to do in the idyllic afternoons. There are also students who work there for the summer and on weekends during school time to earn some extra cash, male and female. The lady told us that they really try to accommodate all individuals who want to work there. She said that she is very happy if the youth shows interest in these things, so as to avoid bad company and other influences that may hinder education or pursuit of a brighter future.

I bought a purse from the showroom because its’ beautiful and I needed one. Also, the price is cheaper compared to buying one from the malls.

Binuatan Show Room

This has been a long post and I am not even halfway there…
We still got to the Crocodile Farm, Baker’s Hill, the Tiangge, Kinabuch, and the capitol.
Please watch out for the Part 2 of this escapade.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Semester Break Escapade Part 3: Mambukal Resort

Another hour of road trip, this time to Murcia, Negros Occidental for our overnight stay at Mambukal Resort. We had to pay a 50 pesos entrance for each person before entering the resort.

Mambukal Entrance Sign

Our accommodation is a villa with 4 beds, a bathroom, and a CR. Shortly after arriving, we unpacked and had our dinner. The food was so good and cheap, and the service instantaneous. Starving as I was before the meal, I was so full afterwards that sleep is a good option.

Sulfur Hot Spring

But before we hit the sack, we decided to take a dip on the Hot Spring first. Good thing its’ already late, there are a few persons around and we have the pool almost to ourselves. On the sides, they provide some cold water spouts if you want to relieve yourself from the warmth of the pool. There is also a mini fountain where the hot water flows into the pool. The water is also hotter there. The hot spring boasts of a 38 to 45 degrees Celsius temperature and delivers.

At 10:00 PM, the pool closes. We showered and dressed, played some cards and drink some tequila before turning in for the night.


Early on the next day, at 7:30 AM after a breakfast of sandwiches, we trekked on to the 7^th falls advertised as one of the to-do things when in Mambukal. Before the climb, we passed by the area where the bats roost at the day, and some are really large. This is also one of the activities offered by the resort: Bat Watching.

Lone Bat at Dawn

It was a very steep climb with rocks and trees, the only things surrounding you for hours. Oh, and the occasional bats, when they were disturbed by other trekkers. But the breathtaking falls on every stop make it worth the climb.

trek to the 7th falls

2nd Falls

Rest stop on the 5th and 6th falls

7th Falls Swim

At the 7^th, we rested for a while and had a falls massage. This is my 2^nd time on Mambukal but the falls is really preserved and protected. The water very clear and cool. We also refilled our water containers for the climb down. On the way down, we use a different route which was not as steep as the way of the falls. The trek was only for 2 ½ hours and we paid the guide 500 pesos.

Upon arriving at the resort, we directly took a dip at the hot spring again. This, by the way, comes free with the accommodation we have. The hot spring or the swimming pool are the choices.

After 30 minutes or so on the pool, we decided to shower and change and also check out of the villa. We had our lunch at the restaurant and it was a banquet. Well, with all those things we ordered, it certainly looked and felt like one. We had pork, scallops, pancit guisado, fish and a lot of rice plus drinks. And there were only 11 of us eating and we consumed everything in sight. After the meal, we did a little sightseeing like buying flowers and plants.

Boating Pond

Mambukal also offers boating, slide for life and wall climbing. We were not able to do this things, but we just visited the butterfly garden for the souvenirs and other stuffs.

Then we have the ride back to Bacolod City. We passed by a Tanduay Distillery, San Miguel Brewery and the Coca-Cola Plant which we did not see on the way to.

At Bacolod City, we stopped by Merci to buy some pasalubong. Then off to Bacolod Port for the journey home on the 5:15 PM trip on the Ocean Jet Ferry again. At 7:00 PM we are back on Iloilo City with a welcome of a pouring rain.

That’s end of the journey for my Semester Break escapade. Now off to write about our previous trips.

Part 1
Part 2

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!